Intentional Faith

It struck me today that some of you may be facing a tough decision.  It may be about your career, family, health or faith.  All of us eventually do but I wanted to remind you of God’s provision for those tough times.  There called friends. 

Ralph Emerson wrote, "God evidently does not intend us all to be rich or powerful or great, but He does intend us all to be friends."

But what I want to say about those friends isn’t what you expect.  Consider the following verse:

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted but an enemy multiplies kisses."  Proverbs 27:6

You need friends to enjoy life and share the good times but you have a select few friends who are both wise and committed to what is best for you.  You need those friends, especially if you have to make some tough decisions.  But remember that listening and hearing are two different things.  To hear what advice a good friend can give, you must:

Be humble.  It’s okay to admit that you are struggling and aren’t perfect.  Your friendship is made better when it’s honest.

Be patient.  Don’t make your mind up before you talk.  If your friend offers some criticism or tough advice, you can’t jump to the wrong conclusion and write them off.  Friends don’t do that.

Be prepared.  Friends can offer perspectives and answers you didn’t anticipate.  What they say may make such sense that you have to rethink everything.  But that is what friends are for!

Above all, don’t go it alone.  That position isolates you and curries the attention of the devil. 

"Encourage each other every day while it is ‘today’.  Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has deceived you."  Hebrews 3:13

Don’t become cynical.  Don’t wait to long to talk to a friend.  It is the best way to protect your heart in hard times.

I don’t like television that much.  Especially prime time shows.  I tend to favor those Discovery and History channel programs.  Lately, they seem obsessed with end times.  There was even a show about the earth after we are all gone.  Amazing and disturbing because we are the ones who really believe that it will occur someday.  For the world it is a matter of despair or fate.  For us it is something completely different.  It is a matter of the Word.

"For whatever life holds for you and your family in the coming days, weave the unfailing fabric of God’s Word through your heart and mind.  It will hold strong even if the rest of life unravels."  Graham Tchividjian

There is a benefit from knowing your Bible, especially in this worsening world.  When Jesus was being battered in the wilderness, he recalled, "A person does not live by eating bread alone but by everything God says." (Matt. 4:4)  We know all too well what the world says about everything.  We hear it 24 hours a day.  We need to know what God says and what he promises.  It can give us the hope and courage to face the world around us.  Remember:

God will protect you from the sin of this world.  Psalm 119:11

God will speak to your heart when you need it.  I Kings 19:12

God will renew your mind every day.  Hebrews 8:10

And He will call you by His name.  John 10:3

Take a look at your Bible right now.  Is it close?  It should be.  To pun a phrase, "Don’t go anywhere without it."

"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.  Remember the Lord in all you do and he will give you success."  Proverbs 3:5,6

We work hard to teach our children responsibility, self-control and mature self-reliance.  We want them to stand on their own two feet.  But Solomon the Wise reminds us that we cannot take such reliance to far.  We cannot take it to the point of dependence.  Let me explain.

Being responsible is a very good thing.  But when our attitude reaches the point where we trust first in ourselves and fail to consult God, we can find ourselves spiritually shipwreck.  Our temptation is pride, an unhealthy arrogance that slips into our think when things are going great in our lives. 

What complicates life is the inevitable downturn.  As the commercial says, "Life comes at you fast."  When we are waylaid by life by things outside our control (illness, a difficult relationship or an economic downturn), we give into despair. 

What we cannot afford to give up is daily trusting in God.  The good habit of asking His opinion and considering His will.  Remember our Lord said, "The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the who makes himself humble like this child." Matthew 18:4

So how good are you?  I would recommend you think twice.  Don’t lean on your understanding alone.

Remember that God hears your prayers (Psalm 18:6), gives you refuge (Isaiah 4:5,6), refines you to his purposes each day (Zechariah 13:9) and eventually will resolve your trials (Isaiah 19:20)

Think twice!

Light changes things.  As I get older, I see the truth of it.  I need plenty of light to read or the words begin to blend.  I need light to move through the house or I spend more time bumping into things.  Now, more than ever, the first thing I look for in a room is the light switch. 

I was doing my devotional this morning and ran across a comment by Dr. Jack Graham that relates directly to light.

"Any light is dependent on its source for power. And the same is true for you and me as followers of Christ. The more dependent we are on Jesus… the one and only true source of our power… the more we’ll be able to be bright and shining lights for Him."

It struck me that the way we see things in our lives depends on the light we are using.  We all have our sources for light.  We all look for the light switches in our lives.  What motivates you?  Where do you turn when things aren’t clear and you need more energy?  Family?  Friends?  Work or worse?

Consider Dr. Graham’s next comment:

"Our world is filled with darkness, and there are people all around us who are living in that darkness. That’s why it’s so important that, as a follower of Christ, you stay plugged into Him so that you can “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven,” as the Scripture says in Matthew 5:16."

Did you see the insight?  Did the light come one for you in that scripture?  The light of our lives to the world are the good works that we do.  Our investment into the lives of those around us and the sacrifices we make every day for Him not only empower us but they also illuminate those around us.

In the darkness of this world, turn on to Christ and do those good things that brighten the day for everyone.

A wise man once wrote, "Do the thing and let them howl."  Jesus knew how unpopular some of his decisions were going to be with others, yet he let them howl. 

"Why do you concern yourselves with the approval that comes from man but do not worry about the approval that comes from God?"  John 5:44

Howler monkeys have been rated as the loudest animal in the world but they are far from the most powerful.  In fact, they are cowards.  That’s why they howl.  Judas cried, "Jesus, she’s wasting money."  Pontius Pilate said, "You don’t know how much power I have here."  The Pharisees howled, "You are from the devil himself."  Even Peter contested, "Don’t go into Jerusalem."

Sometimes we just want a peaceful life.  We want to be let alone.  So we give in and do what people want so they won’t howl.  We’ve all seen it in the grocery store with children.  The greatest challenge we face in life sometimes is recognizing those life-defining moments when we need to do what needs to be done even those some will howl. 

Jesus probably met with a few complaints when he turned water into wine.  He was, after all, improving their drinking.  But when he turned their system upside down, they began to howl because now he was affecting their drinking.

I like what Jesus said in John 6:41 "Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me."  It wasn’t that he didn’t care.  He just knew when to care.  Do you?  Sometimes the best thing we can do is to let them howl.

God has a plan and a purpose for your life.  That has been our message for the last two years.  "I know the plans I have for you." declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future."  We struggle and struggle and fail to remember that God is the only real source of fulfillment in this life.   Do you ever feel confused about this life or frustrated with its results.  Believe me.  Whatever God has planned for you will be wonderful.  God has a plan for your life that will fulfill you in every way.  You will find it only by finding Him.

Abba Poemen wrote, "Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart." 

Remember…

1. God has a wonderful plan for your life and He is eager to help you discover it.  Ask Him.
2. All God requires is a listening ear, an open heart and feet that are quick to follow His lead.

Simply…

1. Study the words of Jesus to learn about His will and purpose for you life.
2. Set aside all preconceived notions about what God has in store for you.
3. Take it slow.  God will reveal His plan in His perfect time.

"Our culture’s preoccupation with happiness has made us a selfish people but the worst part of it is that it hasn’t made us happy."  Tony Campolo

Everyone of us longs for a more simple life.  We remember the carefree days of childhood when someone else worried and provided for us.  We want to be taken care of again but God has decided that maturity requires we take care of another so they can experience some of that comforting joy.

We who are older must satisfy ourselves with being provided for by a gracious Lord and enjoying the company of those around us.  Responsibility is the decision we make to love another. 

Horatius Bonar wrote, "Beloved, let us love for only thus shall we behold the God who loves us."

Thomas Merton said, "Love seeks only one thing: the good of the one loved."

We can achieve a more simple live by living with a more simple love.  Life is only complicated when we seek satisfaction through anything but love.  The apostle Paul put it simply, "If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."  I Cor. 13:1

I pray that neither weather, politicians or the economy cause you too much strife.  I pray that today you may find the satisfaction of doing something good for someone you love.  They will smile and you will enjoy a more simple life.